My Favourite Scares!

Hey Y'all,

Here is a special Halloween Blog entry (I know that it is now November). I am going to list a bunch of my top horror films, in no particular order.

A Nightmare On Elm Street - This film is when the idea of Freddy Krueger was so new and fresh and a lot dark than any of the other films, with the possible exception of Wes Craven's New Nightmare. The cast is great; led aptly by Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund; John Saxon is also very good, as is Johnny Depp in his first film role. It is obvious to say that all the films in the series are indebted to this film as is the entire history of New Line Cinema (which no longer exists) and other horror films that have come out since. This film has made an indelible mark on cinematic horror; as has The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, The Exorcist and others.

Tales From The Crypt Presents Demon Knight - Billy Zane and William Sadler rock in this film. This film is also the only good Tales From The Crypt Movie (although I have not seen Ritual; so I cannot judge that one). Great story, great scares, great ending. Just watch it; that is all I can say.

28 Days later - I just love this movie; it is in my top five of all time. Nothing more can be said.

30 Days of Night - I love the graphic novel; I was a little disappointed with the movie right after I saw it because I became such a fan of the graphic novel, even though I only read the graphic novel because I wanted to see the film. I do really like this film; great atmosphere, great and brutal horror and decent story. Not many horror films these days are this extreme.

Friday The 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan - I do not really like the first 3 Fridays; I believe the series picks up on the third one and I feel that the best one is part 8; Jason Goes To Hell and Jason X are both terrible. I like Jason killing the kids on the cruise ship; particularly the victim POV when Jason beats the girl to death with her own guitar; great kill. I like Jason killing those two New York thugs. Simply put, a great slasher.

Jeepers Creepers 2 - I prefer the sequel to the original film, although the first is probably more well acted (Justin Long is pretty good), but I find it to be too slow. I prefer the horror, pace and premise of the second better and the ending.

The Silence of the Lambs - I cannot say anything about this film. Just watch it if you have not already.

Don't Look Now - Great Gothic horror from arty director Nicholas Roeg (also The Man Who Fell To Earth). Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie are both great in this film. A story that throws curves at you throughout; builds to a shocking and dramatic and horrific conclusion.

High Tension - Foreign Slasher from director Alexandre Aja (who 'borrowed plot points from Dean Koontz novel Intensity; whether or not he admits it; I know the truth; he admitted that he had read the book after saying that he had not heard of it) that is thrilling, shocking and utterly brutal and fantastic.

Dawn of the Dead (Original and Remake) - I enjoy the down trodden and apocalyptic elements in the original film and the brutality and fatalistic nature of the remake, the cast and that fact that it was primarily or entirely (not positive) shot in Ontario. I highly recommend both versions.

I Am Legend - What I most enjoy about this film is the apocalyptic feel of it. The horror and the 'zombies/infected' are fast and scary. Will Smith's performance is excellent; but he is great in everything that he is in.


I hope that you have enjoyed this special Halloween blog entry. Please feel free to send me a list of your top horror films or films that you may suggest that I take a look at.

Sincerely,

Fanboy Dave